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Description

Explore and celebrate the rich history and beautiful buildings in the region during Rutherglen & Corowa Unlocked.

The magnificent homestead “Olive Hills”, which sits on 480 acres (148 hectares) in the beautiful Rutherglen region of North East Victoria, was originally built for Hugh Frazer, a Scottish baker, in 1886.

An original Scotch bakers oven still has pride of place in the kitchen, a reminder of how a man once made a living more than 100 years ago. As fate would have it, today the property is owned by Ross and Kay Perry who have owned and operated sourdough bakeries in the local region.

Hugh Frazer, apart from being a baker, was a prominent local pastoralist and councillor and worked at the nearby “Bonthorambo” station in Wangaratta before establishing his own 1000 acre station.

As a winery in the late 1800’s Olive Hills was hugely successful, producing 4000 gallons of wine in the harvest of 1870, the highest return of any property in the Gooramadda district that year. Hugh Frazer was an innovator, causing Olive Hills to be one of the first wineries in the area to have a wine press, instead of using the traditional foot stomping method, pumping out impressive quantities of Verdelho, Arcarot, Resling and Hermitage.

With 25 acres of his property planted in vines, Frazer matured his wine on site and provided 2 cellars for the purpose. One, a building with a thatched roof gave 4000 gallons of storage, and another, also a large brick building, this time with a galvanized iron roof accompanied by a brick still house and blacksmith shop.

Completed in 1886, the walls of the “Olive Hills” mansion are a ruddy red brick, a full 18 inches thick. With a galvanised iron roof and cast iron guttering, the cypress timber ceiling frame has been well protected from the elements for the duration of its 132 year life span. Hugh Fraser had his 60 square of living space adorned and furnished in high style by Melbourne craftsmen, Robinson and Moffett. 20 squares of that living space is found underground, four large rooms providing a cool retreat for summer living for the Fraser family. These cellar rooms boast marble mantle pieces and big oak doors, identical to the above ground level rooms, a continuation of elegance for a family who enjoyed finery. With the temperature in the rooms varying little from around 17 degrees, the Fraser family were quite able to enjoy the dreadfully heated Australian summers in the cellars of “Olive Hills”. Coolness was obviously a priority for the Scottish born Fraser, wide verandas encasing the entire home with a depth of ornamentation unequalled in the homes of the district.

To add to this speculation, a visit from a prominent parliamentary dignitary was expected in the Rutherglen district, and where else should he choose to stay but at “Olive Hills” or “Fairfield”, for no other houses in the area were quite as fine. But which home was it to be? Preparations were energetically made by both parties, each hoping that the Govenor would be suitably impressed enough to chose to honour their abode with his presence. At “Olive Hills” this included the installation of a septic system, for the finishing touches of luxury. Alas it was to no avail, for the Govenor, although he dinned at the table of Hugh Fraser, instead spent the night across the road at the newly finished “Fairfield”. It is this incident that has kept the legend of rivalry alive to this day.

According to the Indigo Shire Heritage Study, the fantastic brick tower was added to the homestead in 1898, the McKenzie boys obviously as keen to be impressive as the original creator of their mansion.

When the McKenzie ownership ceased towards the middle of the 21st century, Mr Richard Knight, a notable Rutherglen identity, took up possession.

In 1997, Ross and Kay Perry were not really looking for a new home for their family, quite content in Wodonga. But one day, Kay found an advertisement for the sale of “Olive Hills” in the local newspaper, and when she informed Ross, who knew of the property, his heart leapt. They simply had to inspect the home to gauge it’s potential. At first look, Kay thought the house was unliveable, the Melbourne hotelier having left the home unoccupied for 10 years. Ross however was besotted. A former carpenter, he could visualise the potential and see the structural soundness of the well built home. They decided to go to the auction, arranging for their accountant to go to work. He would not even look their way as the action progressed, but eventually, the Perry’s had found they had won the day, “Olive Hills” was theirs! And now the really hard work could begin.

Throughout the home, Ross and Kay have been very particular about having things as historically accurate as possible. Ceiling roses that required replacement have been almost identically matched. Original lath and plaster has been retained and polished. All hand painted wall decorations, care of the young Miss Fraser 100 years ago, have been maintained and indeed are a favourite show piece. With great pride and sensational beauty, they are turning the once run down “Olive Hills” homestead into a dedication to loveliness and elegant youthful grace.

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